Method for staking part assembly fasteners

Abstract

Staking apparatus ( 22 ) disclosed performs a method for staking one or more fasteners ( 44 ) of a part assembly ( 18 ) are provided by a conveyor ( 14 ), a lower lift and lock assembly ( 24 ) including a lower lifter ( 28 ) and a lower lock ( 30 ), and an upper press ( 26 ). Lower and upper staking punches ( 40, 60 ) of the lower lifter ( 28 ) and the upper press ( 26 ), respectively, provide the staking while at least one and preferably a plurality of springs ( 36 ) resiliently support a pallet assembly ( 16 ) on which the part assembly ( 18 ) is positioned.

1. A method for staking a fastener of a part assembly, comprising:
 conveying the part assembly and the fastener thereof on a pallet along a direction of conveyance to a staking station; 
 resiliently lifting the pallet and the part assembly thereon as well as the fastener of the part assembly upwardly from the conveyor to a location between lower and upper staking punches; 
 providing relative movement of the lower and upper staking punches toward each other to stake the fastener of the part assembly; 
 lowering the pallet and the staked part assembly downwardly onto the conveyor for conveyance from the staking station; 
 the lower and upper staking punches having resilient bushings that respectively contact the part assembly from below and above during the staking; 
 the lower staking punch being supported by a lower lifter for the staking and the upper staking punch being moved downwardly to provide the relative movement of the lower and upper staking punches toward each other to stake the fastener of the part assembly; and 
 the lower staking punch being supported by a lower lifter that includes springs for providing the resilient lifting of the pallet upwardly from the conveyor upon upward movement of the lower lifter, and a lower lock moving at least one lock member from an unlocked position adjacent the lower lifter to a locked position below the lower lifter to support the lower lifter during the staking provided by the downward movement of the upper staking punch. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for staking a part assembly fastener as in  claim 1  wherein a pair of lock members are moved in opposite directions to each other from an unlocked position on opposite sides of the lower lifter to a locked position below the lower lifter to support the lower lifter during the staking provided by the downward movement of the upper staking punch. 
     
     
       3. A method for staking a part assembly fastener as in  claim 2  wherein the pair of lock members are moved along the direction of conveyance between the locked and unlocked positions. 
     
     
       4. A method for staking a part assembly fastener as in  claim 3  wherein relative movement of a plurality of lower and upper punches toward each other respectively stake a plurality of fasteners of the part assembly. 
     
     
       5. A method for staking a plurality of fasteners of a part assembly, comprising:
 conveying the part assembly and the fasteners on a pallet along a direction of conveyance to a staking station; 
 moving a lower lifter upwardly so springs thereof resiliently lift the pallet and the part assembly thereon as well as the fasteners of the part assembly upwardly from the conveyor to a location between lower staking punches of the lower lifter and upper staking punches of an upper press; 
 moving a pair of lock members of a lower lock along the direction of conveyance from an unlocked position on opposite sides of the lower lifter to a locked position below the upwardly moved lower lifter to provide support to the lower lifter; 
 moving the upper press and the upper staking punches thereof downwardly toward the lower lifter so the lower and upper staking punches stake the fasteners of the part assembly; and 
 moving the pair of lock members back to the unlocked position and then moving the lower lifter downwardly to lower the pallet and the staked part assembly thereon downwardly onto the conveyor for conveyance from the staking station.